Nature Newfoundland and Labrador

06/23/2026

Nature NL is proud to congratulate Molly-Claire Pelley of Springdale, recipient of the 2026 Wild Things Scholarship. A graduating student at Indian River High School who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to academics and environmental stewardship.

She has been accepted to both Memorial University of Newfoundland - BSc, major in Biology - fall 2026 and University of Guelph - BSc, Wildlife Biology and Conservation Co-op - fall 2026.

Beyond academic success, Molly-Claire's passion for nature has been shaped by her parents, outdoor experiences, volunteerism, and early career opportunities. From organizing beach cleanups and local wildlife surveys to raising awareness about conservation and citizen science, she has demonstrated leadership and dedication to environmental stewardship.

Some of Molly-Claire's achievements include leading fundraising campaigns, organizing school-wide recycling initiatives, participating in environmental summer camps, and contributing to numerous conservation projects.

A passionate advocate for environmental awareness, she earned second place in a regional Lions Club Speak-Off competition with a speech on the impacts of fast fashion and was a founding member of her high school's Social Justice Club. Most recently, she served as a Puffin Research Assistant at Memorial University through the Women in Science and Engineering Program, gaining hands-on experience in seabird research and wildlife monitoring on Great Island.

Molly-Claire's passion for the environment and commitment to their local community is well aligned with the spirit of the award, in naturalist and educator Dave Snow’s memory, and its goal of assisting young changemakers and environmentalists with their path to continued education.

Nature NL thanks all who applied to the Wild Things Scholarship and extends our best wishes to all in their future endeavors. We also wish to thank .tours, , and our anonymous donor whose support makes this scholarship opportunity possible each year.

Pictured is 2026 Wild Things Scholarship Recipient, Molly-Claire Pelley (left), along with Nature NL Executive Director Steph O'Quinn (Right).

06/22/2026

Don't forget to register 🦋

Help us identify butterflies and contribute to citizen science!
Join The Stewardship Association of Municipalities and Nature Newfoundland and Labrador, July 11 from 10:00 -11:00 AM at Chamberlains Park, Conception Bay South to identify as many butterflies as we possibly can by uploading our sightings to the eButterfly App. This is a free app specifically designed for logging butterflies. It lets you track your sightings in the field, identify species, and contribute your findings directly to a global scientific database. We will have guides and tools to help you identify any butterflies you may see!

This is a free event however registration is required!
Register here: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSerNtbuR3a.../viewform...

We look forward to identifying butterflies with you!

06/21/2026

The Summer Solstice holds deep cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples and is celebrated across the country as a time of connection, reflection, and community. Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize and celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, contributions of indigenous communities.

As June, National Indigenous History Month, continues, we encourage everyone to take time to learn about the histories, cultures, and enduring resilience of Indigenous communities across Canada. Consider attending one of the many events taking place throughout the province to celebrate, honour, and learn from Indigenous cultures and traditions.

Photo By: Alexis Cole

06/21/2026

🗑🌱💧Lower Quidi Vidi Watershed Community Clean-up!🗑🌱💧

🗓 Monday 10:00AM - 12:00PM on July 13, 2026

All welcome to join Aquatic Conservation Initiative, Nature Newfoundland and Labrador , and Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador Green Team this summer for a community clean-up of the lower Quidi Vidi Watershed including Quidi Vidi Lake and the river down to Quidi Vidi Gut!

This event is free and no registration is required. Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear. We will provide garbage bags, gloves, grabbers, and reflective vests.

Parking may be tricky, but there is parking available on Cadet Road and on Quidi Vidi Village Road. Please ensure you are parking in designating parking places and respect local private property.

06/20/2026

We had a blast at Terra Nova National Park, Parks Canada!! A huge thank you to Black Recreation NL for joining us and capturing the day!

06/18/2026

Supporting nature is just one sip away! 🍾🍷🍇

We are excited to share that is donating $1 per box of wine purchased in Newfoundland to Nature Newfoundland and Labrador!

Cellared in Atlantic Canada, Ducks Crossing wines bring exceptional taste, quality, value and support for the environment. Creating wines from grapes that flourish in Atlantic Canada as well as remarkable international wines created in the iconic styles of key winemaking regions around the world.

You can find their iconic wines at NLC Liquor Stores across the province. As part of their commitment to sustainability and pride of place, Ducks Crossing supports local Nature Trusts in each province their wines are sold!

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

It's 💧

As fire season if approaching we wanted to highlight the importance of wetlands as fire buffers.

Wetlands work quietly and continuously during wildfire emergencies. Acting as nature’s living firebreaks, their saturated soils, peat, cool air, and lush vegetation create natural barriers that flames often struggle to cross. In this photo, you can see how the wetland area here created a protective buffer during a fire that occurred in the province last year.

Beyond serving as natural firebreaks, wetlands play many important roles during wildfire events. They provide refuge for wildlife, offer critical water sources for firefighters, and support ecosystem regeneration and recovery long after the flames are gone.

While this image highlights the power of wetlands, it also reveals how human activity can gradually damage these fragile ecosystems. Heavy ATV and quad use can compact wetland soils, squeezing out air pockets, reducing water absorption, and causing water to run off more quickly. This runoff carries soil into nearby ponds, rivers, and streams, leading to sedimentation and habitat degradation. During unusually dry summers, the impacts of this damage can become especially visible.

Wetland damage can reduce the landscape’s ability to store water, causing wetlands to become too dry. In other cases, vehicle trails can disrupt natural drainage patterns, increasing the risk of flooding.

When wetlands are damaged or lost, their natural buffering abilities disappear as well. Recovery is often slow taking decades. Some wetlands may never fully recover without restoration efforts.

Protecting wetlands means protecting water, wildlife, and community resilience. These quiet ecosystems work hard every single day.

This media is supported by Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF) made possible by in efforts of restoration and conservation of aquatic ecosystems in partnership with

Photo by: Alexis Cole

06/16/2026

A huge round of applause and congratulations to our Board Member, Dr. Kavi Heerah, who recently received his doctorate from Memorial University! We are incredibly proud of this remarkable achievement and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors!